Muscogee Nation News
Creek citizens from across Creek Nation

January 1985

BARNWELL
A friendship that spanned nearly a century was brought to a quiet close with the deaths of two friends within a few weeks of each other. Joe BARNWELL died December 22, 1984 and Abraham TWO FEATHERS passed away January 6, 1985.
Joe BARNWELL was born June 1, 1875 at Hitchita, Indian Territory. He died December 22, 1984 at an Okmulgee nursing home. Graveside services were conducted December 24 at the Okmulgee Cemetery.
He was a house builder in the Hitchita area for many years. He served as a translator for the Federal government during the change over from Indian Territory to the State of Oklahoma in 1907.
He was preceded in death by his wife Emma BARNWELL in January 1962 and by his daughter Greta KEELS in 1977. He had many friends and was honored by them each year on his birthday.

TWO FEATHERS
Abraham TWO FEATHERS was born October 21, 1889 in Low Gap, Arkansas. He died January 6, 1985 in the Muskogee Veterans Hospital. Graveside services were held January 9 at the Okmulgee Cemetery. No other details of his funeral or interment were given.
He was employed by the Fire Department in Okmulgee in the late 1920s and 1930s and captain of the fire department in Fort Polk, Louisiana during World War II. He served in both World Wars, retiring from the Navy in 1960 at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. He was a lifetime member of the American Legion.
He is survived by his son, Don LACKEY and daughter Juanita LACKEY, both of the home; three grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

BROWN
Monica Jean BROWN, 18, died in December, 1984. No date was given for her birth or her death. Funeral services were conducted December 18 at the Concharty Indian Methodist Church, with Rev. Roy BIGPOND and Rev. George MILLER officiating. No other details of her funeral were given. Interment was in the Tecumseh Family Cemetery
She was the daughter of Eugene and Alice Wilson BROWN of Mounds, who survive. Other survivors include her two brothers, Monte and Marcus BROWN; and her two sisters, Karen and Nicole BROWN, all of the home; her grandparents, Nicey WILSON, and her great-grandmother, Emma TECUMSEH, both of Okmulgee.

MCNAC
Bessie McNAC was born August 4, 1913, in Jay. She died January 1, 1985 at her home in Okmulgee. She was an active member of the Senior Citizens of Okmulgee. Funeral services were conducted January 5 by Rev. Roley HANES and Rev. Bridge CHUCKLUCK at Hickory Ground No. 2 Indian Baptist Church, where she was a member. No information was given on her interment.
Her survivors include her three sons, Pete McNAC of Salt Lake City, Utah, Paul McNAC and Joseph McNAC, both of Okmulgee; her two daughters, Mary BULLETT of Tulsa and Martha LOWE of Oklahoma City; one brother, Calvin SLICK of Wagnor; a sister, Katie STEELEY of Marble City, OK; 28 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren.

CLARK
Nora Opal CLARK was born March 21, 1910, in Okemah. She died December 27, 1984, in the Claremore Hospital. Funeral services were held December 31. No other details of her funeral or interment were given.
She was a member of Newtown United Methodist Church.
She is survived by her two sons, Douglas LITTLE of Sundown, TX, and Harley LITTLE of Muskogee; one sister, Tsianina POWELL of Woodbine, MD; a brother, Freeland DOUGLAS of San Antonio, TX; six grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

COUCH
Roy L. COUCH was born September 22, 1900, in Creek Nation, Indian Territory. He died in December, 1984, in Coos Bay, Oregon, where he had lived for 40 years. He was an original allottee of the Creek Nation. Funeral services were held December 31 in Coos Bay, OR. No other details of the funeral or interment were given.
He is survived by his daughter, Peggy ELLIS of Coos Bay, OR; his four sons, Roy L. COUCH and James COUCH, both of North Platte, NE, and Jack COUCH of Hawaii; one brother, John C. COUCH of South Point, Ohio; three sisters, Gertie NEWBERRY and Ocie MILLER both of Porter, and Allie Bell CORWIN of Wagoner; 17 grandchildren and one great-granddaughter.

SMITH
Terry SMITH died December 23, 1984. Funeral services were conducted December 18 at Fosters Ivory Chapel at Petering Funeral Home. No other information was given on his birthdate or of the funeral service. Interment was in the Memorial Park Cemetery.
He was a former Muskogee City Councilman and Muskogee County Tag Agent. He was an original allottee of the Creek Nation.
Survivors include his two daughters, Dana SKINNER of Dallas, TX, and Margaret DEAN of Tulsa; two brothers, Gifford SMITH of Sonora, CA, and Victor SMITH of Escondido, CA; five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

HARJO
Wynah Lee HARJO was born February 3, 1912 in Lamar. She died in December, 1984. No day of death was given. Funeral services were held December 31 at the Shurden Chapel with Rev. Bryant JESSE officiating. She was a member of Hickory Ground No. 2 Indian Baptist Church.
She is survived by her husband, Wilcie HARJO of the home; two sons, Joe FISHER of Henryetta, and Arthur FISHER of Muskogee; one daughter, Margie HARJO of Weleetka; one brother, Robert L. SUMPKA of Muskogee; seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

WELCH
Willa Mae WELCH was born December 5, 1911, in Eufaula. She died October 12, 1984, at her home. Funeral services were held at the Owen Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Dan PHILLIPS and Jonas PARTRIDGE officiating. Casketbearers were Gen POSEY, Tommy POSEY, and Jerry POSEY, Doug FREEMAN, Chief PERES, Ronnie HUNTER and Phillip COON. Burial and committal rites were held at the Green Hills Memorial Gardens under the direction of the Owen Funeral Home.
She was retired from the Civil Service after more than 30 years service. She was a member of Little Cussetah Indian Church.
She is survived by her husband, James WELCH, of the home; one son, Leroy WELCH of Placentia, CA; one daughter, Janice CYPERT of Sapulpa; a brother, Leo HUNTER of Sapulpa; a sister, Betty Jo HUNTER of Modesto, CA; and three grandchildren.

BRUNER
Stella BRUNER, 79, died January 8, 1985, at Creek Nation Community Hospital in Okemah. No birthdate was given. Funeral services were held January 11 at the Concharty Indian Methodist Church. Interment was at the Haskell Cemetery.
Survivors include two daughters, Virginia BRUNER of the home, and Teresa STEWART of Beggs; three sisters, Bernice COLBERT of Glenpool, August KEPLEY of Okmulgee, and Lydia SWEENY of Haskell; three grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

BOWEN
Dr. Don BOWEN was born in 1944 at Henryetta (no date was given). He died of an anuerism December 19, 1984, at his home. Two funeral services were held. On December 31, a eulogy was deliverd at Temple Israel in Tulsa. Later at his Indian funeral at Weogufkee Church near Hanna, Creek Principal Cief Cox spoke. The Services was attended by Indian Health Service and Creek Nation Tribal officials, as well as many family and friends. Interment was at Weogufkee Cemetery alongside his grandparents.
He attended school at Dustin, graduated high school from Semnole, received his bachelor's degree in pharmacology from the University of Oklahoma, entered Harvard University Medical School, and graduated in 1976 as a Doctor of Medicine. He received board certification in Family Practice after serving residency in Glen Cove, NY. In 1979 he began work at the Creek Nation Community Hospital in Okemah. In 1983-84, he had served a term as President of the American Indian Physician's Association. He was a member of the Okfuskee County Board of Health, secretary of the Okfuskee County Medical Society and member of the American Medical Association and the Association of American Indian Physicians. At the time of his death, he was on the medical staff at Creek Nation Sapulpa Health Clinic.
He is survived by his widow, Michal Ann BOWEN; three daughters, Anna BOWEN, Emily BOWEN and Jenny BOWEN; and his mother, Mary COLBERT of Seminole. Mary Colbert has donated his medical books and tapes to the Sapulpa Clinic and requests that memorials be made to the American Indian Physician's Association Scholarship Fund.

March 1985

RAMIREZ
Doris Marie RAMIREZ was born May 15, 1945. She died in February, 1985, in Henryetta (no date of death was given). She was a nurse's aide at Bono's Nursing Home. Funeral services were held March 1, 1985 at the Hickory Ground No. 1 Church with Rev. Roley HAYNES officiation. No information on her interment.
She is survived by her four children, Leticia RAMIREZ, Delilah RAMIREZ, Gabriel RAMIREZ, and Billy Jack RAMIREZ, all of the home; four sisters, Lavina NYE, Elizabeth MURPHY, Amelia GAMBLER and Carmelieta GAMBLER, all of Henryetta; two brothers, Billy GAMBLER of New Mexico and Wallace GAMBLER, Jr. of Henryetta.

BERRYHILL
Jeff BERRYHILL was born February 24, 1909, in Okmulgee. He died March 9, 1985, at Okmulgee Memorial Hospital. He was a member and Elder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Funeral services were held March 13 at the Cantrell Ivory Chapel in Okmulgee with Bishop L.M. BAXTOR, Jr., officiating. Pallbearers were the elders of the church, A. G. ROSS, Jr., John LAMKIN, George FOZZARD, J. B. ROSS, David LAMB, and Tom LAMB.
He was a retired glass worker after 24 years with ASG. He was married to Marjorie BELVIN in 1935 in Okmulgee. She survives. He was preceded in death by one daughter, Mona BERRYHILL, in 1977.
In addition to his wife, his survivors include two daughters, Pat BOHANNON of Delrey Beach, FL, and Pam DICKINSON of Okmulgee; one brother, Richard BERRYHILL of Alameda, CA; two sisters, Peggy KING and Mohala CHALAKEE, both of Okmulgee; nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

MARSHALL
Jimmy MARSHALL died in February, 1985. No date was given for his birth. Funeral services were held on February 14, 1985, at Bixby Freewill Baptist Church. There was no other information on the furneral or interment.
He was a member of Snake Creek Baptist Church No. 1. His survivors include his wife, Emma MARSHALL; his two children , Joyce Ann HAM of Mounds and Jeff MARSHALL of Tulsa.

GIBSON
Bobby Glen GIBSON was born January 6, 1938. He died March 10, 1985. Funeral services were held March 12 in the Bixby Freewill Baptist Church with Rev. Jonas PARTRIDGE and Rev. Roy BIGPOND officiating. No information on Interment.
He was a member of the Snake Creek Indian Baptist Church and had served on the Liberty School Board for seven years. His father were Roy "Blue" GIBSON, deceased, and Ruth Brown GIBSON, who survives. Survivors are his three children, Jimmy GIBSON, Regina GIBSON, and Bobbie GIBSON, all of Liberty; his mother of Mounds; two sisters, Lahoma HOLLOWAY of Tulsa and Shirley MEDLOCK of Glenpool; one brother, Bill GIBSON of Mounds; two grandchildren and three step-grandchildren.

August 1985

BERRYHILL
Kirk Farom BERRYHILL was born October 26, 1957, in Okemah. He died July 12, 1985, at Okemah. Services were held July 15 at the Springfield Methodist Church. He was a member of the Oklahoma National Guard with the 120th Engineer Battalion. The Okemah National Guard Unit served as his pallbearers and honor guard. Interment was in the family cemetery with Webb Funeral Home directing.
He is survived by his parents, Louise Marie BERRYHILL of Okemah and Junior BERRYHILL of Oklahoma City; three sisters, Nadine FIXICO, Audry MILLER, and Bonita BERRYHILL; and two brothers, Victor BERRYHILL and Gregory BERRYHILL.

BAKER
Charles "Chuckie" Michael BAKER, age 2, died in August, 1985. No birthdate nor death date were given. Two funeral services were conducted. The first was held at Community Indian Baptist Church, west of Sapulpa, with Rev. Dan PHILLIP officiating, and the second was at Smith Funeral Chapel with the Rev. Howard BAKER officiation. Casket bearers were Doug (Tony) WATASHE, Vincent WATASHE, Leonard MONROE, Dean WATASHE, Buddy TARTSAG, and Darrell JONES. Honorary pallbearers were Frank LOCUST, Bert COOPER, Patrick BENEVUE and Richard STONE.
Survivors include parents, Howard and Elizabeth BAKER; brothers, Damon Koshiway, James Lee and B.J. BAKER; sisters Michelle Renae and Amy BAKER; grandparents, Lorena (Bevenue) BAKER, the Rev. and Mrs. Howard BAKER of Ada, James BAKER, Jr. and Alice WATASHE of Sapulpa; great-grandparents James WATASHE and Hattie BARNETT of Sapulpa.

THORBURGH
Elbert (Bert) THORNBURGH was born February 3, 1905, in Ozark, MO. He died July 12, 1985, at his home. He had moved to Okmulgee in 1916. Funeral services were held at Buchanan Memorial Chapel with Rev. John COPE officiating. Pallbearers were Hap KANE, Bud WILLIAMSON, Bill BYARS, Melvin EVANS and Eddie EVANS. Interment was in the Okmulgee Cemetery under the direction of Buchanan-McClendon Funeral Home.
He is survived by his wife, Margaret THORNBURGH, of the home; his daughter Mary Lou HASSELMAN of Okmulgee; his son Joe E. THORNBURGH of Broken Arrow; one brother, Ernie THORNBURGH of Arizona; two sisters, Mertie DILLSAVOR of Morris and Vivian LOWERY of Okmulgee; and four grandchildren.

August 1985 Supplement

ROBISON DESCENDANTS ANNUAL REUNION

The descendant of Col. William Robinson held their annual reunion at Thlopthlocco Tribal Complex near Okemah on July 6, 1980. One hundred and thirty five descendants and their families registered for the reunion.
Col. William Robison was a Lieutenant Colonel in the Civil War until it ended and then opened a mercantile business at the mouth of the Caddo Creek. He moved to Okllahoma Creek Nation and was elected judge of Deep Fork District and served in both the House of Warriors and the House of Kings of the Creek Nation. Joe PERRYMAN, Principal Chief of the Creek Nation, appointed him superintendent of “Old Wetumka Creek Indian Mission,” which had been a manual labor school. Chief Perryman died there in 1899and is buried not far from the school.
After an opening prayer by Tom BERRYHILL of Henryetta, the program started at 11 o’clock AM. Ben BIRDCREEK of Lawrence, Kansas was the master of ceremonies.
Recognition and awards were given in various categories to some of those attending:
Pearlie SCOTT of Weleetka and Susie FOSTER of Okemah were the only two remaining grandchildren of Col. Robison. Pearlie is in the Fountain View rest home in Henryetta and will be given an attractive pillow. Susie still lives on her old home place. She and the Colonel’s three surviving granddaughters-in-Law - Mrs.Richard (Jessie) ROBISON of Wetumka, Mrs. Tommy (Stella) ROBISON of Paden, and Mrs. Clemmie (Lizzie) ROBISON of Sand Springs - all received invitations out to dinner and a throw pillow for their home.
A moment of silence was observed for those who had passed away since the reunion the year before.
Those included:
Granddaughter, Martha TIGER of Weleetka,
Mrs. Tom (Blanche) BERRYHILL and Rufus BERRYHILL (brother of Tom), both of Henryetta
Jimmy Dale ROBISON (son of Stella) of Houston, Texas
Susie FOSTER was the oldest and received a Creek Bible. Youngest was eighteen month old Joseph ROBISON (Stella’s great-grandson). Both were from Henryetta. Mrs. Arthemus Robison LANGSTON traveled the farthest. Both Stella ROBISON and Susie FOSTER received a house plant for having the most children at the reunion (5 each). The horseshoe doubles tournament was won by Billy BURDEN of Weleetka and Tim LAKINS of Paden. The singles tournament was won by Chuck LECUYER from Winnipeg, Canada.
Each family was introduced and told how they were descended from Col. Robison. Officers for next years reunion will remain the same: Tommy ROBISON of Oklahoma City, President; B. C. ROBISON of Paden, Vice President; and Ethel Coleman TORRES of Weleetka, Secretary/Treasurer. Ethel TORRES offered the prayer before dinner.
Besides those already mentioned, others attending the reunion include those from:
Oklahoma:
Lizzie ROPER, William BERRYHILL, William Alexander ROBISON, Gene and Brenda ROBISON; Christy Coleman WHITFIELD of Choctaw; Beth and Bonnie GRIMSLEY of Prague; Mark and Kelly ROBISON and family of Norman; Amos ROBISON of Wewoka; Rebecca LINDSEY of Paden; Stella ROBISON, Loydell BARTON, Mr. and Mrs. Frank ROBISON, Susan and Nichole LAKIN, Barney C. ROBISON, Rufus, Phyllis and Jan ROBISON, Khris BIRD, Mildred and William B. ROBISON, all of Holdenville; Stephen, Travis and Angela ROBISON, all of Wetumka; Betsy HARJO, Elouise PROCTOR, Arthur and Patsy SCOTT, Camille, Michells and Becky, Cheryl, Noel and Joel BARTOSH of Fletcher; Leigh Ann and Rachel DUNCAN, Mary and Consuelo ROBISON, Josephine and Gregory JOHNSON, Gama TAYLOR, Weaver CHEEK and family, Grace Cheek BUNNER, all of Kellyville; William BUCK of Sapulpa; Lynn and Pahi ROBISON of Broken Arrow; Cindy YAHOLA and family, Wanda and Candis WEAVER, all of Chelsea; Mrs. William H. COLEMAN, Lynn Coleman NEEL, all of Tulsa; Rene ROBISON, Irene COKER, Jacinda LANE, Mary and Cody McGIRT, all of Coweta; Nolen, Elnora and Kevin ROBISON, all of Eufaula; Emma WILLIAMS and Jan WALKER of Henryetta; Pauline RANDALL and sons, Togo and Clifton RANDALL, Billy, Juanita, Carolyn, Danny, Dale and David KING, Leah ASBURY, Pamela Robison BURNEY and sons, all of Oaks; “B” Knight of Weleetka; Sinah and Jesse BIRDCREEK, Dorothy, Billy and Mike BURDEN, Gary, Kathy, Toney, Kristi and Dana LANGSTON.
Texas:
Brick AUTRY of Dimmitt; Mel AUTRY of Gainsville;Rick, Linda, Jeff, Ronnie, Russell and Joseph ROBISON, all of Houston; Elizabeth TRICKEY of Liberty;
California:
Mrs. Tom (Lila) ROBISON and Willis ROBISON, Upper Lake, CA; Julie LANGAN, Suzanne LANGAN, Berry LANGAN, and Peggy Sue THOMPSON, all of San Bernadine, CA
Missouri:
Rosalita HARTSFIELD of Jefferson City Washington: Ginger RANDALL of Benton City (also Oklahoma City)Canada: Doreen LECUYER and Andy LECUYER, Winnipeg, Manitoba

October 1985

COSER
George S. COSER was born June 16, 1908, in Raiford. No date of death was given. Wake services were held September 24, 1985, with funeral services the following day. Both services were held at Buchanan Memorial Chapel. Rev. Tommy BERRYHILL and Rev. Bud SULLIVAN officiated at the funeral. Pallbearers were Keeper JOHNSON, George Samuel TIGER, Tony ARKEKETA, Dean WELCH, Ron COTNER and Jim HARJO, Jr.. Interment was in the Okmulgee Cemetery under the direction of the Buchanan-McClendon Funeral Home.
He served in the U.S. Army during WWII and helped entertain the troops in Europe and the United States with his trick roping. He had performed before the King and Queen of England and in the Roman Coliseum. He formed a family group, “The Coser Family,” and continued trick roping until 1965. He was widely  known as a leather craftsman and a rodeo performer. He was a graduate of Oklahoma State Tech.
Survivors include his wife, Stella COSER of the home in Okmulgee; his three sons, Pete G. COSER of Stillwater, George S. COSER, Jr. and Wayne R. COSER both of Okmulgee; three sisters, Nettie HARJO of Dustin, Geneva WALLACE of Bell Gardens,CA, and Georgia COSER of Muskogee; 12 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

BUCKTROT
Alvin Lee BUCKTROT, Sr. was born August 21, 1931 in Sapulpa Bartlett Hospital. He died July 21, 1985 in Littlerock, AR. No details were given of his funeral services or interment.
He served in the 8th Marine Corps of the United States Marine Corp from 1952-55 and was awarded the Korean Service Metal, United Nations Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal and the Good Conduct Medal.  
He was preceded in death by his parents Wysena and Annie BUCKTROT, and one brother Tony BUCKTROT.
In August 1958, he married Liza HARJO, who survives. Also surviving are his two sons, Alvin Lee BUCKTROT, Jr. and Samuel Madison BUCKTROT; his daughter Alicia Ann BEAVER; and four grandchildren; his five sisters, Susana WILSON of Haskell, Phoebe JONES of Bristow, Ruth CRITTENDEN of Stillwell, and Alice WHEELER of Bristow, Hazel TIGER of Cromwell; and a brother, Wade BUCKTROT of Bristow.

Muscogee Nation Index

 Eulala McDowell Pegram